On July 2, Sergei Lavrov met with Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby, who has arrived in Moscow for a UN-sponsored international seminar in support of the Palestine-Israel peace settlement.

The parties discussed the situation in the Middle East and North Africa and focused on the need for coordinated international efforts in overcoming regional crises. The Russian side reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful methods for resolving conflicts through all-inclusive dialogue in the interests of achieving public accord on key issues of the national agenda. They underscored the unacceptability of foreign intervention and foreign encouragement in the armed activity of opposition groups.

In this context, they noted the urgency of coordinating the actions of all Syrians and regional countries against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups and resuming the political process based on the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012 for the purpose of stopping violence in the Syrian Arab Republic as soon as possible. Mr Lavrov and Mr Elaraby supported the efforts of Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria.

Mr Lavrov and Mr Elaraby underscored the need for immediately stopping violence and confrontation in Libya, restoring the country’s unity and its state institutions through constructive UN-assisted intra-Libyan dialogue.

While discussing traditional regional issues, both sides underscored the importance of continued efforts for attaining a comprehensive and equitable settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in line with recognised international law.

They also touched on expanded cooperation within the framework of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum, including preparations for its third session at the ministerial level.

Mr Lavrov and Mr Elaraby signed an agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the League of Arab States on establishing an Arab League mission in the Russian Federation.